Hess Select Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Sauvignon Blanc's rise to popularity is astonishing. It wasn't that long ago Sauvignon Blanc growers were replanting with Chardonnay due to the lack of interest; now, you can't find enough of the varietal to meet the demand. In 2019 it showed a 19% increase in sales volume, and during COVID, Sauvignon Blancs led all varietal wines with a 38% increase (according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis) as the trend for fresh and light wine styles expanded. In Hess Estates' quest for outstanding Sauvignon Blanc that they can sell at a reasonable price, they have turned their attention north. They believed that in Napa and Sonoma, although small pockets make good Sauvignon Blanc, overall, it is too hot and expensive. Mendocino and Lake County have a long history of growing first-class Sauvignon Blanc. Mendocino, with its cool maritime climate and alluvial soils, produces wines almost New Zealand in style with citrus and bracing acidity. More inland, Lake County's warmer weather, higher altitude vineyards, and porous, mineral-rich soils make Sauvignon Blanc with more stone fruit (peaches and apricot) and tropical fruit. These northern wine viticultural regions are where Hess sources the fruit for their Sauvignon Blanc at less than half the cost of Napa fruit and better quality. As do many other Napa/Sonoma wineries such as Duckhorn Vineyards, Joel Gott, Steele, and the Francis Coppola Diamond Collection, to name drop a few.
Hess Estates is still a family-run business since it was established by Don Hess in 1978. Tim Persson married Donald Hess's Daughter and was invited to work at Hess Estates in 2010, leaving a successful law career in London. Donald stepped back from running the winery after five decades in 2012, and today his daughter Sabrina and her husband Tim Persson oversee the day-to-day operations now called Hess Persson Estates. The company owns 850 acres of vineyards in Napa County and produces about 120,000 cases of estate wine and about 550,000 cases sourced from other regions in the state. 
Reflecting on Tim's last ten years at Hess Estate, times were interesting. "In the last ten years, we've been through an earthquake, a landslide, two wildfires, severe drought, and of course, the pandemic. Notwithstanding these challenges, our team, brands, and vineyards have excelled, and so we are both ready and excited for what the future now holds."

2020 was one of those years. Covid hit, which shut down their hospitality rooms, slowed supply chains, and made it very difficult for labor demands in the vineyards and winery. And then there were the wildfires. Smoke taint was a real problem in Napa, and even though the 2020 vintage was good, Hess Perrson decided not to release any of its Napa estate wines. Outside of Napa, in particular Mendocino and Lake County, growing conditions were excellent and mostly smoke-taint free. 
Consumers tend to forget how big California is. Mendocino and Lake County is where Hess sources their fruit for Sauvignon Blanc. "The 2020 vintage will be one for collectors as the high quality vs. low quantity ratio is making this a vintage to be remembered." Mendocino saw an incredibly early harvest ending September 11th, which meant that the white grapes, such as Sauvignon Blanc, had significantly less exposure to smoke as they were already harvested before the Napa fires. An early harvest also means that grapes ripened at a steady pace and were not left languishing on the vine waiting to get ripe before winter frosts and inclement weather. An often overlooked detail is the prevailing winds that run from the ocean in the west to the plains in the east, bathing the region in fresh, cool breezes off the ocean.

Hess Collection Sauvignon Blanc is intended to create a balanced wine with good acidity with citrus fruit notes, much like New Zealand, with the addition of more texture and melon fruit to soften the aggressiveness of this cool-maritime varietal. In short, a recipe for a very drinkable wine that screams summer, pool parties, and sand between your toes.
From The Winery
Vintage 2020 began with a slow start due to a cool, mild growing season. Heat spells in August and September accelerated ripening and fruit development right on time. These temperature spikes led us to pick our white varieties slightly earlier than normal and to bring in some of our red varieties sooner than in past years. Wide-spread fires in the North and Central Coast regions marked the remainder of the season; however, the fruit for our Sauvignon Blanc was picked well before the fires and away from the impacted regions. To best maintain the integrity of our wines, we chose to vinify only the fruit that met our exacting luxury standards, and that would deliver exceptional flavor in the bottle.

This wine is a classic expression of Sauvignon Blanc fermented in stainless steel without oak to show off the naturally bright, refreshing citrus fruit flavors. On the nose, it is led by fresh melon and grapefruit with a subtle presence of lychee. The wine is beautifully structured with flavors of yellow stone fruit complemented by elements of succulent peach and apricot, all of which are balanced by a perfect acidity and lemon zest on the bright, enjoyable finish. Our Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and truly easy to enjoy, and you won't be surprised to find me relaxing with a glass at the end of the day. Dave Guffy, Chief Winemaker
Accolades
Mineral and citrus flavors mingle nicely in this medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing wine. A tangy but slightly rich mouthfeel finds a very good balance. Wine Enthusiast 89 pts

The Hess winemakers hit a home run with this wine. Very dense and mineral-laden, this concentrated and complex bottle shows fig and clay aromas and bright citrus flavors accented by savory mushroom notes. So while well-grounded in fresh fruitiness, it also brings complexity, layering, and interest to the table. Internet Wines.com 92 pts
This Week's Wine Insider Offer
Hess Select Sauvignon Blanc 2020 

In tasting the 2020 Hess Select Sauvignon Blanc, it had the telltale citrus nose, sort of sweet grapefruit, and lime. The weight and richness struck me on the palate. Not a thin New Zealand-style wine at all. Hints of tropical fruit, Lychee fruit, crisp acid, and clean medium-length finish that leave a sense of lime rind in the mouth. I can definitely see this tucked in a picnic basket or backpack for your next great adventure. At a final cost of $6 a bottle, you need to stock up on this wine for the dog days of summer that you know are coming.
Regular Price: $12.99
*Sale price is on 12 or more bottles
$36 Mail in Rebate on 12 bottles, good till end of July.
Final Cost after MIR is $6.00 a bottle
Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case
How To Place Your Order
To order, simply send an email to your preferred Yankee Spirits superstore with one of the addresses to the right, along with:

Your Name
So we know who to hold the order for and your name is not always obvious by your email.

Desired Quantity
So we know how much to hold.

How'd you like to pay
Let us know what payment options you'd like...

  • Unpaid Hold: We can hold orders as unpaid for the duration of this promotion, but cannot guarantee fulfillment on them.
  • Credit Card: Please don't send credit card information via email.

All request are processed during business hours and in the order they are received. We'll confirm your order via email within 48 hours and when it is ready for pickup. Unless otherwise specified, promotional pricing ends two weeks from email send date.
YANKEE SPIRITS
STORE LOCATIONS
James Taylor
Don Ackerman
John Hannum
Barbara Holt
Pricing is subject to change without notice once this promotion ends in two weeks or when we run out of product. Whichever comes first.
Place your order now with the store contacts above, while you've got all the information at your fingertips.

Cheers!

John Hannum, Fine & Rare Wine Specialist
Attleboro
628 Washington St.
Norwood
942 Providence Hgwy.
Sturbridge
376 Main Street.
Swansea
207 Swansea Mall Dr.
Monday-Thursday
9AM to 9PM
Friday-Saturday
9AM to 10PM
Sunday
10AM to 6PM
We reserve the right to limit quantities. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase/consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Not responsible for typographical errors. Rebate quantities are subject to limitation by the manufacturer. These alcoholic beverages may be subject to payment of Connecticut or Rhode Island Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Connecticut Use Tax, and may be subject to seizure as contraband.